Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

Am I the only one who doesn't have a problem with factoring a fragrance's social distribution into a judgment?

Sure, the fragrance itself is a large part of the equation, but not all. I can be pushed one direction or another by things like marketing, or the bottle. I would even risk to say it's impossible evaluate a fragrance on its own terms, one is often referencing or considering other fragrances. EG: "Oh, gee, another oud and incense? How original." or: "This tubereuse is an original interpretation, but it is no Carnal Flower."

I would analogize with fashion; for example we associate certain brands with certain types of people and characters (do you like Ed Hardy? Affliction?), but even this analogy breaks down! Fragrance has such a uniquely powerful associative effect with memory and experience, I think its even more justified to make an appraisal of a fragrance's place in society.

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I don't think it's a niche vs designer thing. In fact, I think that's a copout. Lots of designer scents get plenty of love here on basenotes.

Gucci Pour Homme II is a designer scent and shows up on so many best of lists here.
YSL l'homme and La Nuit are as designer as designer gets and they both get lots of love here.
Dior Homme. Lots of love and available at the mall.
Mugler Cologne. Again, loved here and available at the mall.
Chanel Platinum Egoiste, AHS, and especially AHS Edition Blanche.
Burberry London gets no lack of respect here and can sometimes even be found at Ross!
FAHRNEHEIT! I don't see anybody hating on Fahrenheit because it's a designer scent.

The thing you have to do is accept that your opinion can be different from others and that's A-OK. You love 1 Million. Wear it and enjoy it.

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

1 Million is sweet. But not really any sweeter than New Haarlem or many others that the kids don't normally wear.

1 Million is loud. But not any louder than YSL Opium or Kurous or the dozens of civet-laden 80's attention-seeking powerhouse uber-masculine fragrances that are now praised on Basenotes as "classics".

I own it. I don't really wear it (once in a great while around the house). But I give credit to them - a very successful, unique fragrance. I would call it a fantastic and original work of art - even if it's not for everyone. But what fragrance is?

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I never get upset when no one else likes what I like...What usually bothers me is when a sub-set of BN'ers rant against every fragrance that isn't seen as "chique" I watch them go on and on about anything that can be gotten cheap and/or worm by the masses. Acqua di Gio, 1 Million, etc get horrible reviews from them, while Creed Spice and Wood, or some other bland niche gets rubber stamp rave reviews. I wish it didn't bother me, but it does.

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I like the stuff. It's a pleasant scent, sort of a happy one I would say, and wife and daughters really like it.
And normally I am an old, powerhouse frag type of guy. But 1 Million is quite alright. Good longevity too.
Recently tested YSL LaNuit, another sweet one, and think that one ain't half bad either.

I work in advertising, and 1 Million works in multiple ways:
1) The imagery of luxury and sex appeal when the US is emerging from a huge recession... people want to feel rich again
2) An electronic dance music soundtrack in the ad ("Do It Again" by The Chemical Brothers) - to feel how hot this genre is, just look at the popularity of Skrillex, David Guetta, and Swedish House Mafia (among others)
3) Juice that smells different from most other designer frags - yes, I think 1 Million smells very different from most of its primary competitors (Acqua di Gio, Gucci Guilty, D&G Light Blue, etc.)
4) All packaged up for people "graduating" from the likes of Axe and distributed in the right places - though Sephora had a one-year US exclusive, it became a megahit as soon as it hit the likes of Macy's

All of these factors add up to a sales success. And I find this interesting, as Paco Rabanne hasn't had a hit in the US since XS in the early '90s.

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I don't think it's a niche vs designer thing. In fact, I think that's a copout. Lots of designer scents get plenty of love here on basenotes.

My thoughts exactly.

If you look at noirdrakkar reviews and top ten lists, they contain mostly what many would consider niche.

There are as many if not more threads started on here about designer fragrances.

Originally Posted by L'Homme Blanc Individuel

The thing you have to do is accept that your opinion can be different from others and that's A-OK. You love 1 Million. Wear it and enjoy it.

I personally think that noirdrakkar adds quite a bit of good intelligent conversation to this board, but I also find that when he states opinion, he does it in a way that comes off as it being fact.

Sometimes I think he sits and home and dreams up what will be posted next to create as much controversy as possible, then sits back and giggles about the uproar he has created, in a warped sense of humor way.

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

It is too sweet for me. However, I appreciate the scent, dont mind having it for special occasion. It is a nice scent consider its price. Basenoters are really exaggerate about the popularity of the fragrance it. People tend to detect the scent because it has monster silage. I rarely smell it in public place- not talking to club party place

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

Seeing all the debate here I took my bottle out and put one spray on my wrist. I might have to revise my initial infatuation. It is a rather strong scent and it became extremely cloying within the first few minutes. The dry-down didn't help. I won't condemn it outright until I've tried it a few more times, but at least I can see where all the hate is coming from...

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I intentionally go out and try or buy anything that is designer and hated on BaseNotes.... usually leads to some good smelling ish.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by silentrich

Find a member or members that have similar tastes that you have either through their reviews, posts, wardrobe, or PM them about something your interested in. Then there are members that I have the exact opposite tastes of and if they don't care for a fragrance I know I'll like it. What I like about Basenotes is that the majority of people will give you their honest opinion.

I have two YouTube reviewers I follow closely (Robes & DracDoc). Me and Marc have exacto noses, literally anything and everything he rates a 9 or 10... is spot on with my taste. The only one we haven't agreed on is Encre Noir. DracDoc is an excellent reviewer, gives real world analysis on the scent, situation, etc--but he doesn't like stuff I love... so I just go the opposite of his reviews.

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I personally think that noirdrakkar adds quite a bit of good intelligent conversation to this board, but I also find that when he states opinion, he does it in a way that comes off as it being fact.

Sometimes I think he sits and home and dreams up what will be posted next to create as much controversy as possible, then sits back and giggles about the uproar he has created, in a warped sense of humor way.

This.

Originally Posted by NYCBoomBoom

It is a rather strong scent and it became extremely cloying within the first few minutes. The dry-down didn't help.

This.

Originally Posted by Bigsly

Too bad it doesn't come with a fake gold chain around it bearing a sign reading "Guido is on board." LOL.

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

Originally Posted by noirdrakkar

1
......... but 1 full spray in the winter and 1 light spray in warmer weather is perfect. yes, you will be noticed, but you won't choke anybody if you keep it to 1 spray max (unless your skin doesn't project very well).

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

Originally Posted by Christian M

I intentionally go out and try or buy anything that is designer and hated on BaseNotes.... usually leads to some good smelling ish.

Find a member or members that have similar tastes that you have either through their reviews, posts, wardrobe, or PM them about something your interested in. Then there are members that I have the exact opposite tastes of and if they don't care for a fragrance I know I'll like it. What I like about Basenotes is that the majority of people will give you their honest opinion.

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I shook my head in disbelief when I saw that famous brand name on the bottle of this ...
Once already & only recently when wearing their classic PRPH , i felt a lot of discomfort to answer a simple question ..
What cologne are you wearing ? ..

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I don't hate it, but I certainly don't like it.
I respect it for the sole reason that they were able to make a cloying strong bomb become a bestseller.
A step in the right direction, far away from Sport citrus water.

You can't force people to respect it though.
These polarizing reactions are exactly what the marketing team of Rabanne wants.
You are all puppets on a string.
Every aspect of this fragrance is constructed to evoke that effect.
The name, the packaging, the bottle design, the fragrance composition.
I mean, seriously? Bubblegum, tons of sugar, leather, cinnamon, blood orange, rose, patchouli?

Re: basenoters hating on 1 million

I think the way you come off in your original post makes it seem like you're pretty much attacking everyone who owns niche and just doesn't like one million. You kinda make it seem like everyone who owns niche is blind to one million's potential. I'm not saying one million is a bad fragrance and I'm not sure what type of replies you were expecting but I think if you really wanted to change the perception of one million... just make posts about how awesome you think it is People share their passions about their favorte fragrances by promoting the hell out of them! No one can hate you for your passion